Page 24 - ARUBA TODAY

A24 TECHNOLOGY
Friday 27 September 2019
Uber adds more services to its app in its quest for profit

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE Eats has proven popular,
AP Technology Writer with revenue surging 80%
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — during the first half of this
Uber is cramming more year to $1.1 billion. But Uber
services into its ride-hailing remains mired in a morass
app as it explores ways to of red ink, with losses of
generate more revenue $6.2 billion during the first
and finally turn a profit. half of this year.
The makeover announced Most of that setback re-
Thursday includes force- flected nearly $4 billion in
feeding its food delivery employee stock compen-
service, “Eats,” into the sation that it had to record
Uber app that millions of as part of its initial public
people use to summon a offering, but even without
ride. That means Uber users that accounting expense,
who don’t already have the San Francisco compa-
the “Eats” app may now ny still isn’t close to making
be asked whether they money, much to the dis-
want to order some food in may of investors.
the ride-hailing app. So, Uber will be rolling out
Uber also will start making a new menu of services in
other changes to the ride- its ride-hailing app. It has
hailing app as part of its ef- already been testing the
fort to create an “operat- In this Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, file photo Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, speaks at the concept among some us-
ing system for life,” accord- Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York. ers in the U.S., Europe and
ing to company CEO Dara Associated Press Australia within the ride-
Khosrowshahi. tion of when it has gener- With its losses still mounting, losses, Uber has been grad- hailing app’s map section,
“This is a big change for ated a windfall by selling Uber’s stock has plunged ually raising the cost of but now it will create a
us, but we, as a company, a part of the company, by nearly 30% since pric- rides and becoming more new gateway at the bot-
have never been afraid of Uber has done nothing but ing its shares at $45 apiece aggressive it its attempts tom of the app. Users of
big changes,” Khosrow- lose money since its incep- when it became a publicly to plumb new sources of the ride-hailing app will get
shahi said. Although Khos- tion, while also pioneering held company in May . The revenue. That has included the new services feature,
rowshahi didn’t mention it, a way for people to easily stock gained 8 cents to food delivery and help- whether they want it or not,
Uber is under intensifying find someone come pick $31.76 in Thursday’s after- ing passengers find other according to the compa-
pressure to start making them up at prices that un- noon trading. means of transportation on ny. Eats will be included in
money. With the excep- dercut traditional taxis. In an effort to reverse its bikes and scooters. Uber the newly created menu,
and at times Uber may ask
Coming soon: Alexa in your ear and on your finger a user if they want to order
some food from a nearby
restaurant participating in
the service. Depending on
By JOSEPH PISANI user reaction, Uber may
AP Retail Writer add other services, such as
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon wants a supermarket delivering
Alexa everywhere. The online shop- groceries.
ping giant said Wednesday that In a recent research report,
it will soon start selling wireless ear- HSBC analyst Masha Kahn
buds, finger rings and prescription predicted Uber also could
eyeglasses with its Alexa voice as- team up with department
sistant built in. The goal: Get Alexa store chains, banks and
outside the home and wherever digital subscription servic-
customers are. es with a variety of offers
“You can have Alexa with you served up through the ride-
24/7,” said Werner Goertz, a person- hailing app. Even if Uber is
al technology analyst at Gartner. able to bring in more rev-
It also launched its first celebrity enue with a new range of
voice for Alexa: actor Samuel L. services, it still may face a
Jackson. For $4.99, Alexa users can long road to profitability. It
now ask Jackson to sing them hap- Dave Limp, senior vice president for Amazon devices & services, talks about Echo still faces a number of con-
py birthday or tell them the weath- Buds, the tech company’s new wireless earbuds product, Wednesday, Sept. 25, cerns about the safety of
er. There will be a “clean” version 2019, during an event in Seattle. its services, and California
for those who don’t want to hear Associated Press recently approved a new
Jackson curse. Amazon said other voice assistants built in. But Ama- matoes or other groceries. law that could force it to
celebrity voices will be added next zon’s smartphone failed to catch on Its Echo Frames eyeglasses and end its practice of classify-
year. While Amazon has succeeded and was discontinued several years Echo Loop ring can do similar tasks, ing its drivers as indepen-
in getting people to buy its voice- ago. With the Echo Buds, which cost but both have a button that needs dent contracts and treat
activated Echo speakers for their $130, users can order an Uber ride or to be pressed before speaking to Al- them as full-time employ-
living rooms or kitchen counters, find the nearest coffee shop as they exa. For now, Amazon said it will sell ees instead. That could re-
it hasn’t found that same success stroll down the street. And later this a limited number of the glasses and quire Uber to begin paying
outside the home. Rivals Apple and year, Whole Foods shoppers wear- rings to those invited to buy them a variety of new benefits
Google have smartphones, watch- ing the black buds can ask Alexa and provide feedback on improv- that would dramatically in-
es and other devices that have their what aisle they can find canned to- ing them.q
crease its expenses.q